Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-18

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people believe that allowing children to make their own choices on everyday matters (such as food, clothes and entertainment) is likely to result in a society of individuals who only think about their own wishes. Other people believe that it is important for children to make decisions about matters that affect them.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 7.0)

Certain people argue that children may become selfish individuals if parents allow them to behave independently and make their own decisions, while others believe that it is crucial for children to choose what they want when the decisions concern matters that affect them.

In this essay, I will discuss these two points of view and explain why it is important for children to make their own decisions.

Children are among the most fragile and sensitive members of society, which makes them open to learning from everything they are exposed to. Therefore, some people believe that allowing children to behave independently and make their own choices can develop a desire to always obtain the best for themselves. This may make them selfish and egotistical, and as they grow older, they may tend to prioritize their own interests even when they are working in a cooperative environment. This can negatively affect their relationships and their working environment.

On the other hand, some people believe that allowing children to make their own decisions about matters that affect them is very important because it helps them form their identity at a young age. This can help them develop a clear vision of their goals and preferences in the future. In addition, giving children the responsibility to behave independently helps them build their personality and take responsibility for their choices. In this way, they learn to pay attention to details and avoid being hasty, because every decision can have consequences.

In conclusion, allowing children to make their own choices at a young age is very important for developing well-balanced individuals who are self-aware and responsible for their decisions. This does not necessarily make them selfish; instead, it can help them develop a clear sense of identity and independence.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly present both sides of the argument and provide a personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are relevant, such as the potential for selfishness versus the development of identity and responsibility. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat brief. To reach a higher band, you could provide more concrete examples or deeper analysis of how these choices manifest in real-life scenarios, such as the long-term impact on a child's decision-making skills in adulthood. Overall, the position is clear and maintained throughout the essay.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the two viewpoints is handled well using 'On the other hand'. Cohesive devices like 'Therefore', 'In addition', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. The paragraphing is appropriate, with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The flow is smooth, and the reader can easily follow your line of reasoning without confusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some precision. Phrases like 'fragile and sensitive members of society', 'cooperative environment', and 'well-balanced individuals' show a good command of language. While the vocabulary is generally accurate and appropriate for the context, it lacks the 'less common' or 'idiomatic' items that would push the score into the 8.0+ range. The word choice is consistent and there are no spelling errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a good variety of complex structures, such as the use of conditional-like structures ('if parents allow them...') and relative clauses ('which makes them open to...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is strong. There are no significant grammatical errors that cause confusion. To improve further, you could experiment with more sophisticated sentence patterns, such as inversion or more varied subordinating conjunctions, to demonstrate even greater flexibility.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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